Floating deck



SePt- 27, 1932 l A. G. SPEEGLE 1,879,572

` FLOATING DECK Filed Oct. 17, 1929 Patented Sept. 27, 1932 PATENT OFFICE ANDREW a. srEEGLE, or fora, KANSAS FLOATING DECK Application led ctober 17, 1929. Serial No. 400,265.

My invention relates to tanks and more particularly to floating decks for oil tanks, the principal objects of the invention being to effectually seal liquid in a tank from atmosv phere, to retain a seal in sealing engagement with the tank while the deck is moving verv tically therein and to maintain the sealiwhen `portionsfof the sealing element are distorted due to movement thereof over-irregularities in the wall of the tank. Y r Y.

A floating deck yfor an oil tank is ordinarlly provided with a peripheral sealing elementengaging the wall of the tank `and adapted to slide over the-tank wall as the deck moves vertically due to changes in the level of liquid in the tank.

Slight variations in the diameter of the tank and irregularities due to distortion of the tank wall, seams connecting vertically adjacent tank rings, and the like, in ordinary construction, cause portions of a sealing ring to be displaced and permit leakage.

A further and particular object of my invention therefore is to ,assure engagement of sealing means with the tank wall while the deck is passing irregularities in the wall.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. lis a perspective view of a portion of a tank and floating roof equipped with my improved seal.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of an upper edge portion of the tank, deck and seal illustrating the lower member of the seal displaced by a seam in the tank wall.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a longitudinal section ofconnected edge portions of sealing members illustrating' a flexible element connecting the members.

Referring in detail to the drawing:

1 designates a top ring of an oil tank wall,

2 anadjacent lower ring having an upperedge overlapping the upper ring and attached thereto by rivets 3.

Riding on the surface of liquid 4 in the tank is a floating deck or roof 5 of smaller diameter than the tank to prpvide a circumferential space 6 between the roof'and the tank wall. Arcuate plates 7 are fixed to angies 8 attached to the periphery of the deck and have ends connected to form a complete circle around the deck and com rise a peripheral rim extending upwardly rom the deck. The rim is bracedl and reinforced by means including stiflening brackets 9 to assure rigidity. e

, Fixed to the upper edge portion of the deck rim is an annular sealing element including a pluralityv of sections 10, each comprising a `plate formed of spring steel bent to provide a seating or mounting web 11 Aon its median line and form diver-ging upper and lower wings 12 and 13 inclined outwardly and respectively upwardly and downwardly from the deck rim.

The webs of the Vsections are aligned on a circle surrounding the rim edge and are securely attached to the upper edge of the deck rim by rivets 14. The edge is reinforced by angles 15 also secured to the rim and sections by the rivets.

Flanges 16 comprising back bent outer edge' portions of the wings 12 and 13 extend respectively upwardly and downwardly from said wings and inwardly toward the xaxis of the deck to form beveled edges of the wings for guiding the 'sections over protuberanos'from the tank wall.

Adjacent sectionsv 10 are spaced laterally to provide for horizontal expansion and contraction of the tank and distortion of the sections, and flexible pliable webs 17 preferably of fabric connect vertical or end edges Y of adjacent sections and are attached thereto by bolts 18. The flexible membersextend integrally overl the flanges 16 and are sealingly secured thereto by bolts 19.

The sections are constructed of spring steel'sheets or plates and the horizontal edges of the wings, namely the angles `forming the meeting edges of the wings and flanges 16, engage the tank wall on vertically spaced lines toseal the space between the deck and the tank wall. The sections are originally "constructed to extend substantially.further than said space sothat when the deck and ,sealing element are installed and assembled fin the the wings will-press against the wall.

In usin the devicey the floating deck will rise and all -re onsively. to changes in the elevation of li uid in the tank. Both of the spaced edges o the sealing element will normally engage the tank wall to prevent com munication between yatm here and the space in the tank below the eck..

When the rim of the floating deck passes one of the horizontal seams, vthe first of the ed of the'wings to encounter the seam wi l yield and slide over the same, beingled thereover by the inclined face of the flange The o posite resilient sealin'v edge however, wil stillbe incontact with-the smooth portion of the 'wallfand will prevent movement of gases astthe deck rim.

Gas or air t 'at enters the annular space around the deckrim between the annular sealing rings due to dis lacement `of one ring, will be prevented by t e outer ring from passing onwardly to atmosphere or to the tersv Patent is:

1. In a floating deck for tanks, peripheral sealing means for the deck comprising spring metal plate sections having upper and lower win s diverging outwardly' toward the walls of t e tank to sealingly contact therewith and prevent leakage around the peri hery of the deck, said wings being arrange for inwall of the tank when the other is moving over a proJection on the tank.

4. In a floating deck for tanks peripheral sealing means for the deck comprising spring metal plate sections having upper and lower wings diverging outwardly toward the wall of the tank and terminatingin angularly extending guide flanges forming line contacts with the Wall of the tank, said Wings being arranged for independent movement relatively to each other, 'whereby one of the wings is in engagement with the wall when the other 'is moving over a proJection on thetank, and flexible webs connecting the upper wings of the sections to seal the joint between the sections. v 5. In a floating deck for tanks, peripheral sealing means for the deck comprising spring metal plate sections having upper and lower wings diverging outwardly towards the wall of the tank and terminating in angularly extending guide flanges forming line contact with the wall ofthe tank, said wings being arranged for independent movement relatively to each other, whereby one of the wings may remain in sealing engagementwith the wall of the tank when the other is moving over a projection von the tank, and flexible webs connecting the upper wings of the sections to seal the joint between the sections.

' In testimony whereof I alix my signature.'

. ANDREW G. SPEEGLE.

dependent movement relatively to each other,

whereby one of the wings is sealingly ven-v gaged with lthe wall of the tank wlieirthe other is moving over an obstruction on the tank.

2. In a floating deck .for tanks, peripheral sealing means for the deck compr-'fing metal plate sections havin verging upper and lower wings for yieldingly engaging the walls of the tank and arran or independent movement relatively to each other, whereby one of the wings is in engagement with the wall of the tank when the other is moving over a projection on the v tank. 3. In a floating deck for tanks, peripheral metal plate sections having upper and lower may remain in sealing engagement with the intermediate portions xed to the deck an forming outwardly diy iis sealing means for the deck comprisingspring 

